Modernisation and renewal of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium starts January 2016. Stadium and the Tower is closed until 2019 because of the renovation.

The renovated Olympic Stadium will be the most important venue for major events in Finland and a meeting point for sports, culture, entertainment and tourism. The multi-purpose venue, meeting the international requirements for large events, is in daily use by both citizens and visitors. The renewed Helsinki Olympic Stadium has the largest capacity for sports and entertainment in Finland. The facilities, public services, performance areas, logistics and technical equipment meet the requirements of a modern multi-purpose venue. In future the Olympic Stadium is expected to attract about one million visitors every year.

Read more how​ 1938 inaugurated Stadium turns during years 2016-2019 to the multi-purpose venue which meets the international requirements for large events and is in daily use by both citizens and visitors.

HISTORY OF THE STADIUM

Athletics have always held quite a particular importance in Finland and in the minds of the finns. The first sports associations were founded as long ago as the end of last century, and from the beginning of the twentieth century the Finnish nation has been animated by great zeal for sports. Finland participated in the international Olympia movement even before the country gained independence in 1917. The Finns’exellent results in the Olympic Games of the 1920s fostered the dream that one day it would be possible to hold the Games in Helsinki.

The Stadium Foundation, established 1927, started to implement that dream, and their first and foremost task was to get a stadium built, which would permit Helsinki to host the Summer Olympics. Building began on February 12, 1934, and the Stadium was inaugurated on June 12, 1938. Since its completion the Stadium has undergone eight important stages of development. The most important was the total modernization 1990-1994. At its maximum, in 1952, the Stadium accommodated 70 000 spectators. Today, the number of spectator places, all of them seats, is 39 000.

The Stadium arena, which has been described as the most beautiful in the world, is the product of an architectural competition. Arhcitects Mr. Yrjö Lindegren and Mr. Toivo Jäntti won the competition with their clearly lined functionalistic style design. The most important events in the life of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium were the XVth Olympic Games, 19. July-3. August, 1952. In the opening of the Olympic Games the spectator record of the stadium was reached 70 435 spectators and the olympic year is still an event which has collected most spectators. Whole year 1952 altogether 850 000 spectators.

The Stadium Building is 243 m long and up to 159m wide. The tower is 72m high. The Stadium covers 4.9 hectares. The Olympic Stadium is administrated by the Stadium Foundation. The Municipality of Helsinki, the Ministry of Education and the central sports organisations are represented in the Board of the Foundation.

The Stadium has been characterized as the world’s most beautiful Olympic Stadium, and what is exceptional about it is the fact that the Olympic buildings are in active use.